The "Eighth Act" of the Chushingura vendetta cycle, produced in 1860, depicts the scene in which the wife of one of the ronin learns of the conspiracy and must be kept from revealing the secret—a moment of domestic tragedy within the larger epic of loyalty. Yoshitoshi's early Chushingura series shows his emerging ability to handle multiple narrative registers simultaneously, moving from the physical violence of the confrontation scenes to the quieter emotional drama of the domestic interludes.



1888
Color woodblock print; oban

n.d.
Color woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Eighth Act was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡芳年) in 1860, 5th lunar month.
Eighth Act depicts figures, kabuki, and warriors.
Eighth Act measures 15.9 × 23.2 cm (Oban format).